The 1976 Cadillac Eldorado Was Cadillac's "Last" In-House Convertible - Until 1984
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- čas přidán 8. 08. 2022
- Learn more about the 1976 Eldorado, and talk a walkaround of this beautiful, 4k mile Phoenician Ivory specimen.
- Auta a dopravní prostředky
What a lovely early morning treat! The color combo is pretty neat, and certainly a unique 70s alternative to triple white. By this point, Cadillac might not have been the standard of the world, but it was still a handsome, comfortable car. Bill from curious cars put it well: Cadillac was a victim of its own success, pumping out a lot of cars at the expense of build and material quality and a lessening of the exclusivity of the brand.
I appreciate how they returned to vertical taillamps after this, a very attractive rear end even without them.
Build quality aside, you just can't ignore a Cadillac Eldorado. What an incredible design! Great color combination as well. This is also when GM was masterful at sharing major components between divisions. Most folks never realized that the convertible body from the cowl back was the same as that beneath the ragtop Chevy Caprice, Pontiac Bonneville, Oldsmobile 88 and Buick LeSabre which had all been discontinued the year before. This had begun in the 1971 model year when Eldorado, Toronado and Riviera shared bodies with the GM B cars for major cost savings. Of course, the Cadillac was the only one of the convertibles with front wheel drive and the interior was above anything from the other divisions. Thanks, Adam!
Agreed , the interior in these was a big improvement over the 67 - 70 models . My fatherinlaw had a 70 , and the interior was very cheap looking for a flagship car . There were caprices , LTD'S and furys with a nicer interior than that car had .
This car is critiqued by rubes and knives (our United Kingdom breathern) as having a 'starved cow' appearance by the Rolls Royce cliques; however one could have 10 Cadillacs and 10 tons of cobalt for the price of one rolling electrical meltdown automobile built in England, Scotland, Wales, and nor Northern Irish lands of green midBiome
Dad bought a new Eldo in 1978. Great family car. Ski trips, etc. Awesome winter car with FWD.
I ended up with it to drive in high school. Did my drivers test in it. Great memories.
1st time I parallel parked was on my road test…….nailed it…….lol.
Remember the instructor giving me crap about the doors locking when you put it in drive.
He kept muttering about ‘what a stupid design’.
Now that's impressive, Parallel park on road test with a '78 Eldorado! I used an '81 Chevette and still failed...lol
I lusted after these when they were new back in my high school days when a friend of my Dad’s bought TWO. One to drive and one to keep. Always knew I would own one one day. I bought my ‘76 Eldorado Convertible in 2010 from the original owner, with 476 original miles. Deep red (Cadillac called Claret)with black leather and black top. He bought it new, and put it away thinking, like most buyers back then, that it would only increase in value. I still enjoy driving it to this day on warm summer evenings. Runs like a top, flawless body, top, and leather interior. Enjoying a by-gone era. Thanks for the great video.
That interior looks good enough to EAT. What a beautiful automobile. Ford and Chrysler could never touch this masterpiece.
One of the best of the best, one of these you could just get in and seemingly just drive forever. Thanks
Beautiful 77-78 Thunderbird Diamond Jubilee in the background!!!!
i had one. mine it had auto dimming headlights and 8track player. i love the carburetor four barrel. drove great in winter in snow and ice. i like the 1971 and 1972 more personally.
1971 & 72 are my favorite too.
@@johanbrand8601 They’re the best of the 70s for sure, especially in regards to styling. The bumper regulations in 1973 were very difficult to work around.
I bought a '76 coupe in '78 with 14k on it. Very nice car. I always like the black lacquer wheel discs. They were great floaters on the interstate and gave a very quiet comfortable ride. I knew people who ordered new '76 Eldo convertibles and were offered as much as $50k for them at the time. Love the interior in this one!
Thanks again Adam!
What an unbelievably beautiful classic. The exterior/interior color was so beautiful.
Yes..it does sorta take ur breath away...so grand a land yacht..thx u general motors for the standard (value) of the world...body by fisher, interior by Fleetwood Talisman
This car is on my bucket list!
I have been wondering about that blemish in the front fender. My 76 Eldorado Convertible has the identical blemish. You are also right about the fit and finish. The interior I thought was well fitted and looks great, the body panels on the other hand were not well done. I have had mine re-hung and they now fit perfectly. That being said when you fire it to life and drop the top and get on the freeway all you see are thumps up and smiles. The ride is second to none. The last great American convertible. Thank you for the video great job!
My employer in Albuquerque back in 1979 had a black 1976 Eldorado convertible with less than 200 miles on the odometer stashed away in her garage at her luxury home in the hills. She, along with many other folks at the time, believed that it would be worth serious money in future years as it was "THE Last of the Convertibles". She lost her bet with this belief and also, a couple years later, lost her business as well.
This is totally inaccurate as this Eldo is appreciating exponentially, even faster than the 29% median homes in Fort Worth / dallas in 2021
You owe it to ur reader to provide attribution and context...as to ur vocational positioning in the scenario u are attempting to speak intelligently
@@baronrittiner646 Your opinions about my experience are noted.
Glad to hear it. Met many people like that over the years and they are typically the ones who are more impressed with themselves than anyone else is. Cheers!
@@baronrittiner646 Says the person who uses "ur" in your thesis level journalism project. What about "prolly?"
Nice Video of a wonderful and gorgeous car! I have a beautiful '76 Eldorado Convertible myself. Mine is in Phonecian Ivory as well, but with a Buckskin interior and matching top. I really LOVE ❤️ that car, named Alexis. She is so much fun to drive, but I have to remind myself that she handles VERY differently than my 2017 CT6‼️ She truly glides across even bumpy rides, more like piloting a ship than a car. If the weather is nice, put the power top down with the touch of a button!☀️😎😄 Her turning radius is also like trying to do a 180°-turn in the Suez Canal in a Super Freighter! But on a long freeway trip, just engage the Cruise Control, set the Climate Control as you desire, and relax in your six-way power seat, covered in miles of plush, genuine leather. Truly a remarkable car, inside and out. 😁😁😁
Just a great Cadillac and the last of a breed... I remember them new.... They did sell a ton of them as you said in 1976. Thanks for posting !
Nice.
I used to drive one of those almost daily, in that color. It had the fuel injection, ran good at the time. I do remember the lousy panel gaps, that was pretty noticeable even if you weren't looking for it. A retired US Navy doctor owned it, and had Helen Reddy 8 tracks playing in it all the time. Good memories all in all.
That part of the parking lot hosting the car show has plenty of content for future films…hint…hint!
Hello Adam, I'm a big fan of the 75 - 76 Eldorado convertible & this one is stunning!!! The color combination is very elegant. I'm also impressed with the 78 Diamond Jubilee Edition Thunderbird next to it!!! I'm surprised that it still has it's center caps on the wheels, my dad had a Diamond Jubilee Edition Thunderbird & someone stole the center caps & we searched the world over & never could find replacements!!! Thanks for sharing another exciting video!!! 👍👍
I enjoyed looking at this example in a color I hadn’t seen before.
The matching top and interior gives it a unified look.
Cadillac announcing that this would be the last convertible certainly didn’t hurt sales.
Looking back at convertible Eldorado production numbers…
1971, 6800. Factory price $7751
1972, 7975. Factory price $7681
1973, 9315. Factory price $7681
1974, 7600. Factory price $9437
1975, 8950. Factory price $10,354
1976, 14,000. Factory price $11,049
As Adam mentioned, build quality suffered probably
because of the jump in production numbers.
In 1984 Cadillac once again offered a factory convertible El Dorado.
3300 were produced at a cost of $31,286.
As I recall, some 1976 convertible owners attempted lawsuits
complaining Cadillac lied, “the last convertible“.
The only people to benefit were probably the lawyers. 🤷♂️🤦♂️
Exquisite and elegant.
In the middle of a frame-off on our '72 Eldorado convertible. Spending waaaay more than it will ever be "worth," but it'll be good for another 50 years -- longer than I'll need it! Thank you again for your thoroughness and attention to detail. Love your videos of these luxo-barges.
Still on vacation? I'm at work, but I'll stop for a moment to look at a handsome Caddy. Have a good day.
That's the nicest color and interior combo I've seen on one of these. The first time I ever saw one I was cycling home from school on a narrow backroad in Ireland back in the late '70s, and this red monster with a white interior cruised up beside me and stopped to ask for directions. I'd never seen a car that big on the roads before. Big for us was a Ford Granada. I never did see it on the road again, but in the early '90s I spotted it up on blocks at the Portmarnock Raceway, and that's the last I saw of it. I'm sure the salty sea air wasn't doing it any favors.
Grandma held on to her 1972. She said the later years were just dreadful with the filler pieces.
👍thanks for the video
My friend's Grandfather had an identical one. The color was popular in my hometown, two firen'd parents had the same color combo in 1976 Sedan De Villes.
I remember people buying these final Eldorado convertibles two and three at a time and then putting them in storage as "investments." That might be where this car came from, since it has such low mileage.
What a good color both inside and out. This would be a great add to your collection although you'd spend a while getting fenders, hood, etc all properly aligned.
Loving these videos from shows, great cars , plus you add just the right amount of insightful knowledge, wonderful little 8 to 10 minute vignettes! And the vintage ad at the end is the icing on the cake!! Thanks for all the work you obviously put in Adam, it's appreciated. So look forward to all your videos. Regards from the UK.
I never understood the word “Options on Cadillacs Chryslers or Lincoln’s “ the purpose of these upscale brands was there was no need for options these vehicles were upscale and already had everything A to Z
The order sheets had loads of options to choose from.
love this generation of eldorado
I also love this color.
Very impressive Eldorado. I always thought the mid 70s Deville would’ve made a more attractive convertible. We own a ‘75 Grandville convertible (which has some of the typical 1970s GM build quality issues) and some people think it looks like a Cadillac. I have to remind them that it’s a Pontiac. 😃
Adam, another great video. Thank you!
My Grandfather had this exact car, so to speak. Same color scheme, etc. Loved driving it while sporting his white leather shoes with matching belt. Total 70s...
I always thought the Lincoln Marks looked better albeit this is a convertible. The Lincolns also sold better. A friend had a 1976 model in metallic red with red leather. Nice car.
The Lincoln's looked much better. These Cadillacs bring to mind the term "pregnant whale."
In my humble opinion, the neighboring 'Bird (which was much less expensive) was much better looking and has a NASCAR legacy to boot!
@@Richard4point6 Outstanding comments Sir. Thank you
One of my most favorite Cadillac exterior designs of all time. Beautiful cars to cruise along the shoreline, lead a parade, and cruise down boulevards in cities like Vegas and Miami. Famous celebrities, such as Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, would fit perfectly in one with the top down.
I love your passion for American cars.
Definitely a beautiful convertablr.
As I have mentioned in some other videos, I was 15 years old when that car first came out and when I turned 16, I had my own business washing and waxing cars.
I grew up in Mount Lebanon Pennsylvania there were a lot of Cadillacs and Lincoln's, I can remember cruising around in several different 76 Eldo convertibles.
Some people were so picky when I would return the car if I had the top down they would check for wrinkles, and I would be told no more putting the top down LOL not to mention they counted the miles!
I used to do the general manager's wife's car of Rohrich Cadillac in Pittsburgh, he offered me that car when I was in college very cheap because we had a great relationship, he knew my love for it and it only had 4,000 miles on it.
Nobody can take the memories though and they were great
Back then you KNEW you were in a car, not a kiddy car like today!
Great job Adam.
Keep the Cadillacs coming!!
My favorite Cadillac Eldorado and model year of all time!
For me Cadillac was basically done in 1970. Those were the last of the truly great luxury cars from GM to me.
The Eldo is very nice! Ok now that we have that out of the way you must do a video about the 77-79 TBirds like the beautiful one in the background. 955K sold in 3 model years!
Flawed beauty😍
IMO: A Beautiful Car.
My grandparents had a '75 eldorado couple in metallic silver with a burgundy interior that they bought brand new, my mother and I were brought home from the hospital in that car after I was born so it was the first car I ever rode in! It got parked in the mid 80's because the catalytic converter stopped up and back then muffler shops were scared to cut them off to replace them so the car sat and eventually was sold for scrap. My grandfather kicks himself to this day for letting himself be talked into scraping that car even though the drive line, interior and any body panels that bolt on are still in his shop to this day!
It is beautiful indeed, and I too, love this color. Great understated leather seats. Never realized that fuel injection was an option back then.
Great color as well...
Tremendously beautiful as this undoubtedly is, I personally prefer the hardtops.
Love the color. And I always learn something new from every one of your videos. Love the Eldo but kinda jonesing for a review of the Thunderbird Jubilee next to it and the Country Squire behind it!
Adam, u always teach me something with these walk-arounds! I never realized the vertical taillights didn't light up as at least parking/stop! I remember seeing this color, touch of green!
Wasn't a plaque put on the glovebox door bearing customer's name? My grand dad had a Sedan de Ville from that year, same dash and I thought ( along with being the size of a piano) it was gorgeous! I almost hate for this specimen to be exposed to sunlight, UVs be damned.
But yeah, even as a kid, I could sense that these seemed cheaper esp w/ plastic fillers in bumpers. To have exposed railings in the soft top is a curious cost consideration! Jeez
Great color, in ‘77 you could get Bimini Beige, which was almost pink.
Lots of front overhang from the wheel well to the tip of the bumper. Thanks for posting...
Great car and great video. Just an FYI, all convertibles came with leather interior. Cloth was only available on the coupe. Thanks!!!
Lovely car timeless they'll never Make em like that again
1976 was the last year for the 500cid engine. As I remember it from riding in a 1976 Coupe Deville, the vehicle was roomy and that 500cid, while having lost some horsepower, had lots of torque and could still motor along pretty fast when the accelerator was nailed.
The airboats at Everglades Holiday Park in Florida are powered by twin Cadillac 500 cubic inch V8s. Lots of torque at low rpm to turn those big props.
I had one. My only complaint: too slow. Mine was not a convertible. Standard white coupe. Beautiful car. Red leather interior. Excellent pulling through the Northern Illinois snow. Other vehicles, including trucks would be in the ditch as I would glide on past them.
Adam, please do also the last classic Cadillacs, the 1992-1996 Fleetwood Brougham and the 1995-1999 DeVille.
Yes, and also the Buick Roadmaster.
we had a 79 olds cutlass suprime in that EXACT color, heh
Beautiful car! Yes flawed by rapid production perhaps, but my friends from India would be impressed to see what took place in that era with cars in North America. My father was an auto worker at GM all his life and he has told me so many times how cars changed so dramatically every year in the 50s to the 70s. There were some cool changes in the 80s too...but that was the end of radical yearly changes. The leather seats in this caddy look better than the recliners and couches in our homes. Very cool.
Sure wish I could read that Monroney sticker.
In the late 70’s I worked in the used car business. The man that I worked for bought a 1976 Eldorado coupe in this color combination. It was equipped with every option that Cadillac offered including fuel injection. I remember that it got 13 miles per gallon whether driven in town or on the highway.
Who the f* cares when you are NOT a Broke Bloke sans personal mineral interest(s) in the Barnet Shale | Fort Worth's recent Mining Play Paying net net net USD$80k/day-on-a-bad-day-out-where-the-fun-in-the-western-hemisphere-hills-begins-@-14:22GMT-this-fine-day-we-r-all-blessed-w/-ONE°MORE°DAY(of~£€₩¥♧◇♡♤■》《infinite"0pportunity(s).
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The green pin stripe works great with that color.
Plenty of these around... "collectors" saved them from new.
I recall those Bi Centennial editions. Cadillac was hyping the convertible, saying it would be the last “mass produced” convertible for sale in the U.S. My aunt and uncle had a beautiful 1980 Sedan De Ville, and a very handsome navy blue Eldorado with the stainless steel roof. I’d like to hear about the very nice looking Thunderbird next to the Eldorado. I can’t recall what year that is, 77, 78, or 79, but I’d know it was a special edition......... the color and solid roof pillar in the rear. My parents had a beautiful 4 door, 77 Cougar Brougham I wished was still around. They are quite rare.
I would love to buy one of the Bicentennial ones but the prices are still high for me.
I saw one of these near the office at a salvage yard where I go occasionally to get parts for my cars. It pains me to see a convertible just sitting out in the sun, rain and snow, and though it's a little rough, I'll bet it's worth at least $10,000 as is, though I don't know if it's a '75 or '76 (which would be about a third more, I've heard). If I run into the owner the next time I'm there, I'll politely suggest that he put a cover on it or sell it. I'm not a fan of the coupes of these years, but the convertibles really deserve to be preserved.
Look at the front blinkers. If they are clear it is a '75 if they are orange/amber it is a '76.
Nice😀
Our older neighbor had one just like this
She would never sell it to me
She was a tiny woman standing about 4’10 a full of spunk
I’m she one of her kids took the car as she went into asst living
But man it was a beautiful car
love these old Cadillacs though I don't like white cars my late maternal grandfather had a 1968 Eldorado Seville black with Rosewood fire mist metallic trim then my late maternal grandmother had an early 80s model Coupe Deville when I was very young mid-late 1980s
That color combo was on my 73 coupe.
Wow, that Tbird next to it is almost as long as the Eldorado...
I’d love to see a video on the 1978 Thunderbird Diamond Jubilee parked next to the Eldorado.
The Mark IV absolutely crushed this car in sales. This is a beautiful car though and a lovely color. Cadillac still was easily outselling Lincoln overall though.
The Lincoln so called trying to be near luxe is a joke compared to Cadillac...just sometimes try punching a 460 powered Town Car at 50 mph, shift into reverse then drive WITHOUT lifting the throttle an the Ford will show you it design cheapness as it drops parts all over RiverCrest / Alta Drive, Westover Hills Cowtown, Fort Worth. The Fleetwood Turbo 400 will do a dozen of these from 2am to 5am and not miss a tick...
1976 was the last year Cadillac made an in house convertible.
Thanks for pointing out the tail lamp detai, never realized this before. I'm guessing bumper regulations played a role here but they figured it out for the '77 model year.
My mother worked for a physician in Detroit who bought the Bi-Centennial model the year he retired.
With as much torque as this huge engine has, only 16 throttle positions must have been distinctly noticeable! I never knew it also had 25 more hp.
The one I drove at the time ran good, nothing noticeable with tps. Maybe it wasn't old enough yet to have problems, or maybe I was used to carburetors that weren't quite right. It was pretty torquey - at the time I think it ran better than most big cars. The owner of it also had a '75 Eldorado, with the 4 bbl. 500. The '76 FI 500 was a bit quicker.
Dad surprised us and drove home with a White convertible with red leather interior! What a car! I think is was a ‘74.
Nice color, but I'd actually go for the light blue T-bird right next to it.
I think it was green.
That color combo could be close to a one of one.
Question what is it common for American manufacturers back in the 70s to “seclude the heating and air-conditioning controls on the driver side I can picture passengers complaining back then to adjust the temperature
I owned the IDENTICAL thunderbird next to the Cadillac! I have a review if it on my old channel, “Terrence Gold”
The "wood" trim circling up around the top of the interior door panel must have added cost (and is quite engaging) - I'm surprised they spent for that.
It's only plastic.
@@danielulz1640 is it plastic or photocell? Everything in these years of Cadillacs are seriously chintzy
Those Eldorados make most sense as convertibles.
I took my dad’s bosses to my first prom in 1989 it had something like 900 miles on it I was disappointed in the performance in the 500 I was 17.
Well, with anything, once the public is told, hey, your never going to be able to buy another convertible ever.! People respond, and buy,buy,buy. Because they want to be extra special to own one of "the last convertible cars".! Just like when the Camaro went away, I'm sure those numbers went up as well in what 2002.? And then,.. oh wait, thanks for the sales, but we're going to bring it back.! Lol
Had a 78 Coupe de Ville in this color and now I know what it’s called!! Also has the same color leather interior. It’s difficult to view them as old
Yes, when the 1982 Riviera convertible came out, and then the 1984 Eldorado convertible came out, it pissed off a LOT of 1976 Eldorado convertible owners who put their "last convertibles" in mothballs. The big peeve I have is they never brought back the 2 door hardtops nor 4 door hardtops. If a convertible will be allowed with these rollover standards in place, why not true hardtops?
cheaper to make
“So like, what’s ‘your’ daily driver?” “Oh, just a modest 2 door coupe… with a TEN FOOT HOOD” 😏 Yes, that particular shade of yellow does look quite stunning on ‘that’ land-yacht BEAST! Had things not gone the way they did during the 70’s & instead, the burning of gasoline &/or diesel was NOT highly polluting too our environment, who knows how much BIGGER Caddy’s & other domestic cars would’ve become?! Of all the crazy original literature that I’ve collected for my two ‘55 Buick Super’s, I really wanted at least one original dealer window sticker ‘but’ apparently GM hadn’t started using those yet… I believe I had read somewhere that those weren’t used until ‘round ‘60 or ‘62?
I love the off-white color. I do not like the typical blue-toned white, or "refrigerator" white so often used.
👍🔥😎🔥👍
Exterior and interior colors look identical to my Dad's 1968 Pontiac Catalina convertible.
Yes, the "bows" visible on the inside - I don't think there was ANY car that had an upholstered interior convertible top. Conversely I believe almost every European convertible does. I happened to be just looking at a 2017 Bentley Continental where they did such a nice job on the reverse side of the convertible top. I know not much of a comparison, just thought it was so nicely done I thought I'd say so 😉
Currently Mustang's and Camaro's have upholstered insides of the top.
Beautiful classy colors...really a stunning car. What was the theme of that show? It seems like mostly big 'ol boats instead of the usual hot rods and muscle.
I have a '75 Grand Ville droptop and it shares the top, glass, cowl, beltline, and dutchman with this gorgeous Eldo...I don't think they could have lined the top because of the way the roof rails hinge inwards on themselves, but the top material itself is multi-layer which allows for some sound deadening
Kelly ripa use to have to rev up the engine of her dads 77 Fleetwood v8 every morning
The 'wood' trim extending around and up at the rear seat is pretty deluxe and must make riding with the top down very posh patio on wheels. Just reflectors in the tail fins? Cheeze.
Assembly quality problems were the result of the adversarial nature of GM relationship with UAW during the time. There were a lot of factors behind it but in my opinion GM management anti-union culture was the fundamental issue. There were plenty of profits at the time that could have/should have been shared with labor. Yes, UAW could have/should have been more flexible (e.g. dropping the make work position rules) but compare to Toyota culture of teamwork and pride and it is easy to see why build quality became a defining reason for declining brand loyalty.
How many fake trees did they cut for those cars.
👍🏾❤️👍🏾❤️